Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Indian Law/Tribal Sovereignty (Face-to-Face)

CJ 4500-02

Course: CJ 4500-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 33249

Course Description

Course will be offered to address various topics of current concern affecting/influencing areas of the Criminal Justice system. This course is designed to assist in understanding of Federal Indian Law by allowing students to explain and analyze the legal, cultural, and political contours of tribal sovereignty. (Fall [As Needed], Spring [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): CJ 1010 and CJ 1330 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: D- 

Required Texts

 Pevar, Stephen L. The Rights of Indians and Tribes. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024. ISBN: 9780190077563.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to: - Understand the history, development, structures, and political association of American Indian tribal governments. - Identify key principles of American Indian sovereignty. - Analyze how federal policies and legal frameworks have shaped Indigenous governance.

Course Requirements


Grades for the different credit options will be based on:
1.     Weekly Forum Postings: 140 Points
2.     Class Participation 90 points
3.     Final Project Proposal 50 Points
4.     Final Project 220 points

Course Outline

Forum Postings: A discussion forum will be due each week based on assigned readings. Discussions must be robust to develop conversation based on the reading. Primary entries will be a minimum of 100 words responding to prompts provided based on the readings due every Sunday, 10 pts total for post.  
 

Primary entries will consist of three parts: Concepts, Connections, and Questions

·       Concepts: Demonstrate conceptual understanding by directly responding to the hypothetical prompt provided.
·       Connection: Mak 
·       e meaningful connections between course material and examples from real world experiences.


 

Secondary entries (optional extra credit) should respond to primary entries with specific, productive, and illuminating ways aimed at fostering ongoing dialog by answering the question proposed in the primary entry. 5 extra credit points awarded for up to five posts in 5 different weeks. 
 

Class Participation: In general, missing more than 5 classes will significantly affect your class participation grade. Class participation includes actively participating in class including being adequately prepared. Your grade for class participation will be based on attendance and your good faith participation.
 

Final Project: The Final Project will be based on the students’ understanding of tribal sovereignty. Essentially finding the answer to the proposed question of, “What is Sovereignty?” The student can use any form to present this project, as long as it can be posted or linked to the course website. Written formats and digital storytelling formats are permissible; this includes essays, poems, video presentations, and audio presentations. Written formats will be a minimum of 1,000 words. Digital storytelling will be a minimum of 3 minutes. If you are unsure if your project will be acceptable, please speak to the instructor. The Final is due December 9, 2025, at 11:59pm. You are required to hand in a brief outline, one paragraph stating what media you are choosing to utilize for your final project on October 30, 2025
 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments are expected to be submitted on time. Late submissions will be subject to a grade deduction. Work turned in after the deadline may be docked a 10 percent per class week. Extensions may only be granted in advance under exceptional circumstances. 

Attendance Policy

 Regular attendance and active participation are essential to your success in this course. Participation will account for 90 points of the final grade. Students are expected to arrive on time, stay for the duration of class, and contribute meaningfully to discussions and activities. Excessive absences, tardiness, or lack of engagement may result in a lower participation grade. 

Course Fees

 The course fee is set and determined by the university. Students are responsible for paying all required fees in accordance with university policies and deadlines. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.